Messi undergoes tests for kidney problems
Reuters
Barcelona striker Lionel Messi is expected to play in Wednesday's King's Cup semi-final against Valencia despite missing training on Monday to have tests on his kidneys, the La Liga club said.
"Barcelona striker Lionel Messi will undergo several tests on Monday and Tuesday to assess the evolution of the kidney problems he suffered last December," Barcelona said in a statement on their website (www.fcbarcelona.com)
"Messi will return to his normal duties with the first team on Wednesday."
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Chelsea's Zouma faces six months out after knee surgery
Reuters
Chelsea's French defender Kurt Zouma will be out for six months after surgery on a knee injury suffered at the weekend, the Premier League champions said on Monday.
The prognosis means the 21-year-old is ruled out for the rest of the season and will also miss the European championship finals in his home country, which open with France playing Romania in Paris on June 10.
The injury came just as Chelsea, whose hopes of retaining their domestic title are effectively over after a poor campaign, prepare to play Paris St Germain next week in the last 16 of the Champions League.
Chelsea said the centre back, who has made a big impression this season, injured his anterior cruciate ligament when he fell awkwardly in the 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
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Derrick and Montagliani launch bids for CONCACAF top job
Simon Evans, Reuters
Caribbean Football Union president Gordon Derrick and Canadian Soccer Association president Victor Montagliani both announced on Monday that they will be candidates for president of the troubled regional confederation CONCACAF.
CONCACAF, which governs soccer in North and Central America and the Caribbean, has had its last three presidents all indicted by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of their wide-ranging investigation of FIFA that has seen 41 individuals and entities indicted.
CONCACAF has been without a leader since December and will vote for a new president in May.
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Allegri urged to fill Mourinho's Chelsea shoes
Justin DAVIS, Agence France-Presse
Massimiliano Allegri has been urged to "walk to Chelsea" and take up the "fantastic offer" that has been tabled for the Juventus coach by the Premier league giants.
Both Allegri and his predecessor at Juventus, Italy coach Antonio Conte, have been linked with the Chelsea manager's job currently being filled on a caretaker basis by Dutchman Guus Hiddink following the sacking of Jose Mourinho.
Allegri's contract in Turin expires in 2017 and he says he is "happy where I am".
But Giovanni Galeone, who coached Allegri at several clubs during his playing career and is described as his mentor, believes the Juve boss will capitulate and quit the Turin giants to take over at Chelsea in time for next season.
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Russia says Blatter, Platini to be invited to World Cup
Reuters
Disgraced world soccer president Sepp Blatter and the sport's European head, Michel Platini, will be invited to the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said on Monday.
Blatter and Platini, the two men at the top of the world's most popular sport, were banned by soccer governing body FIFA for eight years in December over a spate of corruption scandals on their watch that, among other things, raised questions about Russia's right to host the tournament.
Mutko told Russia's R-Sport news agency on Sunday that Blatter and Platini were appealing against their bans and still permitted to attend soccer events.
"Formally, the suspension prohibits them from any position in football. But on the other hand, how is that an outstanding player like Michel Platini can't go to the football?" Mutko was quoted as saying. "We will invite them, I see no problems with the events we are hosting."
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Ronaldo committed to seeing out Real contract
Agence France-Presse
Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo is staying at Real Madrid for at least another two years, the forward said on Monday.
The 31-year-old three-time Ballon d'Or winner was picking up an award as top scorer in Spain for last season from Spanish daily Marca when he made the comments.
In a light-hearted interview he dampened incessant transfer rumours linking him with a switch to either big-spending Paris Saint-Germain or former club Manchester United.
"I'm still under contract for another two years. After that, we'll see," said Ronaldo.
source: www.abs-cbnnews.com
